Leesburg's All-stars Advance To Title Game

LAKE SPORTS

Ben Andrews Struck Out 10 As Leesburg Gained A Berth In The District 4 Championship Game.

June 24, 1997|By Herky Cush of The Sentinel Staff

Leesburg Minor Major All-Stars moved into the catbird seat of the District 4 baseball tournament here Monday with a 13-1 victory over the Ormond Beach Americans.

Leesburg awaits the survivor from the loser's bracket in the double-elimination format. Ormond Beach will play the winner of Monday night's New Smyrna Beach-Holly Hill game at 6 p.m. today.

The title game is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday. Should the winner from the loser's bracket prevail, another game would start at 8 p.m.

The champion of this event for 9-10-year-olds advances to the state championship July 21-26 in Panama City Beach.

As overpowering as Leesburg's bats were in the first two games is how tough pitcher Ben Andrews was Monday on the Ormond Beach Americans. Andrews struck out 10 and allowed three hits. His fastball was setting the hitters up for an off-speed palm ball.

''That's what we work on getting the hitter out with,'' said manager Mac Andrews, the pitcher's father. ''He just puts that pitch back in the palm of his hand and throws it like his fastball.''